Guidelines for collecting copyright fees from TV and radio
stations may be issued next year, according to an official from the
National Copyright Association.
China Times reports The Legislative Affairs Office of
the State Council is currently considering the guidelines, which
will apply to all music other than that created by the
stations.
The articles estimates copyright fees from TV or radio stations
could amount to as much as 10 billion yuan, or US$1.3 billion, if
the fees collected in Hong Kong are used as a reference.
The 2001 amendment of the Copyright Law allows radio and TV
stations to broadcast music without the consent of the copyright
owners, as long as they pay a usage fee. The law allows radio and
TV stations to negotiate other arrangements with copyright owners,
but no guidelines for collecting copyright fees have yet been
issued.
(CRI December 18, 2006)